Tue 31st March 2015 (0 comments)

Bamboo is a type of woody grass that is found growing throughout the world's tropical regions. Well known for growing at an immense pace in comparison to other plants, it is fast becoming one of the world's most sought after commodities but what is it being used for?

Well, bamboo has thousands of uses from edible shoots to large scale construction and even more recently as a biofuel, this humble plant can be used for almost anything. Bamboo fibres are used to make clothes and boards made up from strands are becoming increasingly popular all around the world to be turned into furniture, and very commonly floor boards.

Palm oil plantations have been popping up rapidly over recent years, but many of them are illegally set-up in natural forest and peat-land and are completely unregulated. Thousands of acres of both primary and secondary forest that are either vital to conservation or the native people are being cleared every year. The trade is thought to now account for up to 10% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions.

This boom has happened mainly over the last 10 years and has made palm oil the most used edible oil today. It is found in thousands of products from chocolate and biscuits to soap and lipstick, but many companies actually have no idea where their palm oil even comes from. Under current European legislation, companies do not have to state if they have used palm oil in their products, instead it can be labelled as vegetable oil!

We have the right to know what is in the products that we use and consume! Help us to change this...